By Jack Lapauve Jr, EMTV News – Port Moresby
Members of the opposition have lashed out at the government for using the police force at the UPNG Waigani Campus.
Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, says the action taken by the force is uncalled for and says students will not cause any unrest or unlawful activities.
Basil says the police chief must make known if there are operational orders set aside for police to enter the campus. Basil said the 2011 incident was drastic and that police should know what to do under these circumstances.
Basil applauded the calmness shown by students and called for the withdrawal of police personnel.
With only one higher learning institution successfully carrying out a referendum, Deputy Opposition Leader, Mark Maipakai, says the Electoral Commission must play its role and allow UPNG to conduct theirs.
“If Unitech has done, why the delay for UPNG? ” said Maipakai.
Northern Governor, Gary Juffa, has thrown his support behind students. Governor Juffa says students are exercising their constitutional rights.
“Students are exercising their rights, they have not acted beyond their capacity in causing any riot or looting,” he said.
EMTV understands police were present at UPNG under the directions of the UPNG senate for security purposes, and for those students who wished to resume classes.
